Ribbon threading mechanism



March 16, 1948. LORENZRlsLER 2,438,063

RI BBON THREADING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2, 1944 Patented Mar. 16, 1948 "RIBBON THREADING MECHANISM Louise Lorenz-Risler, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to Alfred Leonard Lutz, Zurich, Switzerland Application November 2, 1944, Serial No. 561,597 In'Switzerland November 2, 1943 2 Claims. 1

Changing ribbons on office writing machines of all kinds, suchas typewriters, adding machines, bookkeeping machines, etc, is a most disagreeable and timetaking occupation. To avoid soiling the fingers as best can be, some ribbons are known to havebeen' broughtout with one end or even both ends free from ink. In most cases, even though the soiling of the fingers is not completely avoidedthe difficulties of setting the ribbon correctly through the carrier remained the same.

These difliculties are entirely eliminated through the present invention. The method according to the invention consists in temporarily joining the end of a new ribbon to the tail end of the used one, before this last one iscompletely wound up, after which the new ribbon gets carried through the ribbon carrier at the final winding together with the removal of the used ribbon, the two joined ribbons being then disconnected. The ribbon which also forms an object of the invention, has at least its one end provided with a space for adhesive purposes.

This method cannot be used as simply for ribbons provided with a switch device at both ends, because a switch device is not removable and will not go through the carrier.

To adapt the method also to ribbons of the type having a switch device at each end one cuts off a bit of the end of the used ribbon, connects the beginning of the new one to the rest of the used ribbon and subsequently winds up the used ribbon, while at the same time pulling the new one through, separating the beginning of the new ribbon from the end of the used one, and connecting it to a spool band. The switch devices can thus be connected to the spool bands, avoiding their being pulled through the carrier.

At one end of the ribbon used for demonstrating the present invention, there is included an inkless spool band connected to the rest of the ribbon. This spool band may carry a switch device allowing the switching back and forth of the ribbon.

The accompanying drawing serves to explain the method according to the present invention. in the drawing Fig. 1 illustrates how a ribbon having no switch device is changed;

Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically a ribbon with a switch device and Fig. 3 shows such a ribbon applied to an o-ffice machine.

Referring now to Fig. 1, I designates the ribbon, whose tail 2 is without ink. on this tail end 2, another strip" 3 is located, -whichis preferably just as wide as tail end 2. For instance, strip 3 can be fixed by an adhesive withits porti0nA-.B to ribbon l. Between strips 2and13, a summed space has been reserved at point .4, and the end 5 of the new ribbon l'v can be insertedbetween the strips 2 and 3 and securely stuck.

To insert the ribbon I, one winds up the used ribbon on the one spool in the usual way. Before it comes to an end, and while .it is. still .inthe side carrier and ribbon carrienone inserts the end of the new ribbon between the strips, and sticks it well. Thereupon, one completes the winding up of the old ribbon, pullingthe new ribbon through the side carrier and vthe..ribbon carrier at the same time, after which, one separates the gummed connection and secures the end of the ribbon to the empty spool.

The extension strip connected to the tail end of the ribbon may consist of a strip of Celluloid, which is connected to the ribbon by an adhesive. It is recommended to secure the connection through pressure, so as to press the strip fixed at the connecting place as far as possible into the fabric of the ribbon and to ensure that the end of the strip protrudes above the ribbon as little as possible. The strips can be stuck through the use of a, non-drying adhesive, thus allowing the adhesive spot to form the connecting link with the end of the new ribbon by partly pulling apart the two superposed strips.

In the example illustrated in Fig. 2, ll denotes a spool to whose centre the end of a spool band I2 is connected. The latter is at least partially damp proof, so that it will not absorb ink while the ribbon is being wound up. The outer end of the spool band has a switch device in the form of an eyelet l3, as well as an adhesive surface 14', prepared with a reluctantly drying adhesive. Through the adhesive surface M, the spool band i2 is connected to an inkless connection strip l5, covered with a tape [6 to which the adhesive I4 will readily adhere. This tape also adds stiffness to the connection strip 15 of the ribbon to prevent rolling or twisting during the ribbon-changing operation. The strip l5 may be made in one piece with the inked part ll of the ribbon, but has been freed of its ink, or it can be fixed to part I! by adhesion or sewing.

The other end of part I! of the ribbon has an inkless end strip I8, which may be a continuation of the inked part I! or may be joined to the part I! for instance by adhesion or sewing. This end part l8 carries a strip [9, made for instance of Celluloid, and is fixed in such a way that it projects beyond the end part 18, and has an adhesive layer at the bent part 20, which consists of a non-drying adhesive forming an easily detachable adhesive part. This adhesive layer is provided with a detachable protection strip 2|, for instance made of Celluloid.

Exchanging a ribbon like that shown in Fig. 2 is now explained with reference to Fig. 3:

To change the ribbon from spool A to spool B over the switch carrier 22, the side carriers 23, 24 and the main carrier 25, one winds up the ribbon on spool B, just so far that the eyelet of spool band l2 from spool A becomes visible as shown. At this point, one lifts spool A from its pin, and the spool band 12 is separated at the easily detachable adhesive surface l4 (Fig. 2), from the rest of part I! of the ribbon to be changed. Then, one takes the beginning of the new ribbon, made as shown in Fig. 2, and wound on a spool, and connects it temporarily by means of the adhesive surface M to the tape 16 or to the part of the ribbon to be exchanged respectively and places the new spool on the pin of the removed spool A. Afterwards, one winds up the used part of ribbon H on spool B, pulling it through carriers 2225 while at the same time drawing the new ribbon through these carriers. Then one removes the spool B containing the used ribbon from its casing and detaches the beginning of the new ribbon from the used part at the easily detachable adhesive surface. One now takes a spool i I, which has only a spool band 12, a switch-eyelet i3 and an adhesive surface 14, connects the beginning of the new ribbon with the spool band I2, and places the new spool on its pin instead of the used one B. The new ribbon is now set in.

I claim:

1. A ribbon for oifice machines, comprising a fabric strip impregnated with ink, and provided at one of its end parts with two superimposed strips for receiving between them the end part of another ribbon to be inserted into the machine, adhesive located between the two super imposed strips, at least one of the two strips being part of the ribbon fabric.

2. A ribbon for office machines, comprising a fabric strip impregnated with ink, and provided at one of its end parts with two superimposed strips for receiving between them the end part of another ribbon to be inserted into the machine, adhesive located between the two superimposed strips, one of the strips being a continuation of the fabric forming the ribbon and the other being at its inner end fixed to the first mentioned strip.

LQUISE LORENZ-RISLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 595,838 Spiro Dec. 21, 1897 1,212,166 Amiss Jan. 16, 1917 2,020,152 Mannino Nov. 5, 1935 2,142,576 Thomson Jan. 3, 1939 2,276,324 Mann Mar. 17, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,155 Great Britain 1908 

